Enjoy a relaxing visit to Pure Spa

Was it really little more than a decade ago that hen and stag parties were one-night affairs in the local pub? These days, our nation's cities are awash with groups of men in drag or women decked out in feather boas and printed T-shirts, enjoying what was once a low-key bender the night before the wedding.

These days hen and stag parties are competitive affairs. If it's not paintballing, it's weekends abroad. And boy, can they be expensive, as activities, travel and overnight stays all add up to way more than you were planning on spending on the deluxe toaster you were going to give as a wedding gift.

In addition, what the hen or stag possibly doesn't take into account is just how much fun such activities really are for the friends who're paying for the privilege to attend.

Much like the wedding itself, when it comes to the hen night, many women don't consider their guests' enjoyment of the experience when they're planning it.

So ladies, if you're asking your pals to shell out to help send you off into married life, why not make it a little fun, or even relaxing for them? Plenty of spas offer packages for hen parties, but by opting for a city day spa, you can drop in for a few hours, building it into the rest of your day.

Edinburgh's Pure Spa offers a flexible package for parties of hens, allowing them to enjoy pampering treatments while maintaining the group feel. As one of six bridesmaids, I head along with Bride, a few bridesmaids and Bride's mother.

Incidentally, this is a very mother and mother-in-law-friendly activity due to the absence of inflatable genitalia or anything of that ilk. We are greeted with drinks and snacks, before being taken off in pairs for our treatments, leaving the rest of us to sit back and gossip. The formula is simple; each guest can pick from a list of four treatments - a deluxe manicure, deluxe pedicure, facial or massage - each lasting around 30 minutes.

We all opt for manicures, a particularly social option since we can easily chat during our treatments. Much girly giggling follows as we select our colours then start gossiping about boys, wedding dresses and shoes, oh my. It's a world away from male strippers and baby oil, and it's an experience no one minds paying for. We manage to fit it around a day which takes in a number of other low-key activities, and there's no humiliation or printed pink T-shirts involved. And not a plastic willy in sight.

Pure Spa (2nd Floor, Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh), tel: [phone] or visit purespauk.com

This article was first published in The Scotsman on Saturday, 18 September, 2010